Panelboard locking means



Sept 22, 1964 w. H. EDMuNDs 3,150,290

PNELBOARD LOCKING MEANS Filed Aug. 51, 1960 PRIOR APT mi 4 n n .INVENTokUnited States Iatent '3,150,290 PANELBOARD LOCKING MEANS William HaroldEdmunds, Havertown, Pa., assigner to I-T-E Circuit Ereaker Company,Philadeiphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 31, 1960,Ser. No. 53,309

6 Claims. (Cl. 317-119) The instant invention relates to panelboards andmore particularly Ito a novel panelboard construction whereby av circuitbreaker of a given width may be replaced by a pair of circuit breakerswhich together occupy the same Width.

In recent years it has been the practice to construct panelboards forhome and light industrial applications in a manner such that thepanelboards are adapted to receive circuit breakers Whose widths are oneinch or multiples thereof. More recently half inch wide circuit breakershave made their appearance on the market. While panelboards may beconstructed specilically to utilize breakers of half inch width, it ishighly desirable to utilize panelboards whichgare adapted for eitherbreakers of one inch width or one-half inch width.

The prior art utilizes existing panelboards with narrow type circuitbreakers by positioning two independently,

operable circuit breaker units in a single Wide housing and providing acommon line terminal for both circuit breaker units. With thisarrangement, if there is a mechanical or electrical failure in one ofthe circuit breaker units a replacement of the unit at fault entails thereplacement of two circuit breaker units. Further, in the originalconstruction of the circuit breaker the ratings of the pole units mustbe established. That is, once the circuit breaker units are mountedwithin the single housing, if the rating of one circuit is changed thenan entirely new circuit breaker comprising two poles must be changed.

In order to overcome the problems outlined above, the Leonard et al.copending application, Serial No. 18,411, filed March 29, 1960, nowPatent Number 3,095,524, entitled Panelboard Adapter, and assigned tothe assignee of the instant invention, provides a line terminal adaptermeans which electrically connects two narrow circuit breakers each ofwhich is provided with its own housing. The adapter means may be placedbetween two circuit breakers to achieve a duplex breaker or may beplaced on either the right or left side of a single breaker, so thatthis breaker may be utilized individually in the panelboard. Extremeflexibility is achieved in thatthere are two separate and independentcircuit breakers which can be tied together in any combination ofratings after the individual circuit breakers are completed.

The adapter means is primarily intended to provide an electricalconnection.` However, the adapter means often provides the onlymechanical connection between the circuit breakers. '.l`hus,VV it isnecessary to provide some means for holding the circuit breakerstogether at their load sides. The conventional mounting hook for oneinch circuit breakers cannot be utilized if the half inch circuitbreakers are to be of identical construction, with one exception. Thatis, the mounting recess of the half inch breakermay extend the fullwidth thereof, so that when two half inch breakers are placed side byside there is in effect a single wide recess. It is most desirable thatThe open ended mounting recess arrangement gives rise` to two majorproblems,namely, the circuit breaker combination is not held ina centralposition with respect to the mounting'hook, nor is the load side` of thecircuit Cil ICC

reaker combination held together. If the load side of the combination isnot held together, it is possible to spread the line side adapter meansthereby adversely affecting the line side electrical connections.

The instant invention solves the previously noted problem by providing apanelboard mounting hook which includes a central notch therebyeffectively subdividing each hook into two portions. When it is desiredto mount a one inch wide breaker to the panelboard, the mounting recessof the one inch wide breaker receives both portions of the mountinghook. When a pair of half inch wide breakers are mounted in place of theone inch wide breaker, each portion of the panelboard mounting hook isreceived by an individual recess of the circuit breakers. With thisarrangement the mounting recesses of the half inch wide circuit breakersmay be closed at the ends thereof. The closed-ended mounting recessassures that the circuit breakers are held in a substantially fixedposition so that the possibility of spreading the line terminal adapteris eliminated. .Y

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a novelarrangement whereby a pair of narrow circuit breakers may be installedin a panelboard in piace of a Wide circuit breaker.

Another object is to provide a panelboard of novel construction wherebya pair of narrow circuit breakers of identical external constructionsmay be mounted in place of a single Wide circuit breaker.

Still another object is to provide a novel panelboard constructionwhereby either one inch or half inch wide circuit breakers may bemounted with the load ends thereof substantially fixed in position.

A further object is to provide a novel panelboard having mounting hookswhich are centrally notched so that a pair of half inch wide breakers ofidentical construction may be securely mounted in place of a one inchWide breaker.

These as well as other objects of this invention shall become readilyapparent after reading the following description of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective cfa prior art panelboard illustrating themounting of one inch wide circuit breakers thereto.

FIGURE 2 is an end View of one of the wide circuit breakers of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are end views of a pair of narrow circuit breakersconstructed to be mounted to the panelboard of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an end View of a pair of narrow circuit breakers ofidentical construction which cannot be mounted to the panelboard ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective of a panelboard housing whosemounting ledge is provided with hooks constructed in accordance with theteachings of the instant invention, whereby the circuit breakers ofYFIGURE 5 may be mounted thereto.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary View taken through section 7-7 of FIGURE 5looking in the direction of arrows '7-.-'7y and showing the relationshipbetween the notched mounting hook of FIGURE 6 and the mounting recessesof the half inch circuit breakers 0f FIGURE 5.

Now referring to the iigures, and -more particularly to FIGURE 1v fwhichillustrates prior art panelboard v10.

y block 14 is provided with suitable recesses, asiswell known to theart, `to maintain bus bars'15, 16 in operative positions extendingparallel to the walls 12, 13;

Mounting block 14 also maintains male stabs V17-19` El; connected toappropriate ones of the bus bars 15, 16 so that when bus bars 15, 16 areelectrically energized stabs 17-19 are also energized.

Each of the walls 12, 13 is provided with a mounting ledge 20 which issecured in place by screws 21. Each mounting ledge 20 is provided with asuitable recess 22 which receives an extension 23 of mounting block 14to maintain mounting block 1li in a fixed position relative to base 11.

Mounting ledge 2G is provided with a plurality of spaced mounting hooks25 whose free ends extend toward stabs 17-19. YThere is a mounting hook25 on each of the mounting ledges 2t), which is positioned in alignmentwith individual ones of the stabs 17-19. so that each stab is positionedto energize circuit breakers extending from both Walls 12 and 13.

For mounting of circuit breaker 26 to panelboard I@ the mounting recess27 at the load end of circuit breaker 2.6 is moved until it receives oneof the mounting hooks 25. Thereafter the line end 28 of circuit breaker26 is pivoted toward stabs 17-19V with hook 25 acting as a pivot point.The jaws of circuit breakerline terminal 29 engage the one of the stabs17-19 Vwhich is aligned opposite the mounting hook in question.

It is to be noted that mounting Vrecess 27 is closed at the ends thereofand that the width of this mounting recess is only slightly greater thanthe width of mounting hook 25. With this arrangement the load end 29 ofcircuit breaker 26 is maintained against movement transverse to theplane in which breaker 26 is pivoted into engagement with the male stab.

In FIGURE 3 there is illustrated a pair of half inch circuit breakersSil, 31 mounted in adjacent side by side relationship. In thisarrangement the mountingrecesses 32, 33 of circuit breakers 3d,31,.respectively, are each open at only one of the ends thereof. Thus,with circuit breakers 3f?, 31 mounted as shown, recesses 32, 33communicate with one another to form a single recess, which is as wideas recess 27, so that thecombination of breakers 30, 31 may be mountedto panelboard 10 in place of one of the circuit breakers 26. Y

It is to be noted that the bases 34, 35 of circuit breakers 3i), 31,respectively, are of different constructions and that the covers 36, 37of circuit breakers 30, 31, respectively, are also of differentconstructions. This is highly undesirable and impractical lfrom themanufacturing standpoint as it requires the stocking of many differentparts.

In addition, with this arrangement circuit breaker 3hV cannot be mountedin combination withjcircuit breaker 31 while mounted to the left thereofwith respect to FIGUREV 3. Further, since mounting recesses 32, 33 areeach open at one of the ends thereof, mechanical securing means arerequired at the load ends of breakers 30, 31 to prevent these breakersfrom spreading apart and Vadversely affecting the electrical connectionswith stabs FIGURE 4 illustrates an arrangement for utilizing two Yidentical half Vinch circuit breakers in combination held insubstantially fixed position, i- Thus, circuit Y breaker 40 is not heldagainst movement transverse 'to the plane in which circuit breaker 40 isjpivoted during mounting' thereof. 5

FIGURE 5- illustrates avpair of identical circuitrbreakers mounted inadjacentl side bysidefrelationship. Each ofthe circuit breakers 45 isprovided with a mounting recess' 46 which is closed at both endsthereof. j In order to accommodate a kcombination of two-circuitbreakers 4S, a panelboard,v having mounting ledge 5d i Said second meanscooperating to define a first location z3 (FIGURE 6) must be utilized.Mounting ledge 50 re-4 places mounting ledges 20 of panelboard 10 and inall other respects the panelboard 9@ is the same as panelboard 10.

Mounting ledge Sil includes hooks 51, each having a width A which is thesame as the Width of hook 25 so that the entire hook 51 may be receivedin mounting recess 27 of a Wide circuit breaker 26. Each hook 51 isprovided with a central notch 52 extending inwardly from the free endthereof. Notch 52 effectively divides hook 51 into two sections 53, 54of equal width. The width Bof section 5d is slightly less than the widthof mounting recessV 46 of narrow circuit breaker 45.

As is best seen in FIGURE 7, when a pair of narrow circuit breakers 45are mounted to hook 51, hook sections 53, 54 are each disposed inmounting recesses 46 of an individual circuit breaker 45. Since bothends of mounting recess 46 are closed, the load end of circuit breaker45 is maintained against movement transverse to the plane in whichcircuit breaker 45 is pivoted during mounting thereof. The combinationof two circuit breakers 45 is held in a central position with respect tomounting hook 51, so that the possibility of adversely affecting thecircuit breaker line connection is substantially eliminated.

Thus, this invention provides a novel mounting hook construction wherebyeither narrow or wide circuit break- Vers may bemounted in the samepanelboard with the load ends locked in place. The narrow circuitbreakers may be of identical external construction, each provided withmechanically independent housings, and there is no necessity formechanically securing the narrow circuit breakers to one another at theload ends thereof.

Although the invention herein has been described in connection Withanexemplary embodiment, it is to beV understood that variations andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A panelboard comprising an electrically energizable first means and asecond means comprising a mechanical retainer for a circuit breaker loadside and a point about which a circuit breaker line terminal ispivotable in a plane into engagement with said first means, said firstand said second means cooperating to define a first location formounting of a wide circuit breaker, said second means including aplurality of selections for mounting first and a second identicallyVconstructed narrow circuit v reakers at said first location, saidplurality of sections locking said rst and second narrow circuitbreakers against movement transverse to said plane; adjacent ones ofsaid section being spaced by a notch. Y

2. A panelboard comprising an electrically energizable first means and asecond means comprising a mechanical retainer for a circuit breaker loadside and a point about which a circuit breaker line terminal ispivotable in a plane into engagement with said first means, said firstand for-mounting of a wide circuit breaker, said second meansconstructed to lock a first and second identically constructed 'narrowcircuit breakers at said first location,

against movement transverse toY said plane; said second; meanscomprising a hook adapted to be rece1ved by a c1r- Y cuit'breakermounting recess of a wide circu1t breaker;

said hook being divided into a plurality of sections sepay hook, each ofsaidsectio'ns adapted' to be received by a irst'means anda second meansVcomprising a mechanicalf circuit breaker mounting recess of a narrowcircuit breaker and provide means to pivot said narrow circuit breakersat recited plane'.` Y Y 3. `A panelboard comprising anelectrically*energizable said VVfirstlocation, in planespparallel'tosaid previously fret'a'iner'for a circuit breaker load side and a pointabout which aY circuit breaker line terminal is pivotable in a planeinto engagement with said first means, said Vfirst and said second meanscooperating to define a first location for mounting of a wide circuitbreaker, said second means constructed to lock a first and a secondidenticaliy constructed narrow circuit breaker at said first locationagainst movement transverse to said plane; said second means comprisinga hook adapted to be received by a circuit breaker mounting recess of awide circuit breaker; said hook being divided into a plurality ofsections separated by notch means communicating With an edge of saidhook, each of said sections adapted to be received by a circuit breakermounting recess of a narrow circuit breaker and provide means to pivotsaid narrow circuit breakers at said rst location, in planes parallel tosaid previously recited plane; said third means comprising a centralnotch in an edge of said hook positioned closest to said first means.

4. A panelboard comprising an electrically energizable first means and asecond means for mechanically retaining a circuit breaker load side andproviding pivot means about which a circuit breaker load side ispivotable into operative engagement with said first means; said firstand said second `means having a plurality of sets .of cooperatingformations each defining a location Where either a single wide circuitbreaker or a pair of narrow circuit breakers in adjacent side by siderelationship may be mounted; the cooperating formation in each set forthe second means comprising a irst and a second section separated by anotch; said first and said second sections being spaced from one anotherWithin the limits defined by its respective location, and each beingadapted to be received by a mounting recess, closed at both ends, of anarrow circuit breaker; said first and second sections being positionedso that both can at the same time be received by a mounting recess of awide circuit breaker.

5. A panelboard comprising an electrically energizable rst means and asecond means for mechanically retaining a circuit breaker load side andproviding pivot means about which a circuit breaker load side ispivotable into operative engagement with said iirst means; said lirstand said second means having a plurality of sets of cooperatingformations each deiining a location where either a single wide circuitbreaker or a pair of narrow circuit breakers in adjacent side by siderelationship may be mounted; the cooperating formation in each set forthe second means comprising a iirst and a second section separated by anotch; said first and said second sections being spaced from one anotherWithin the limits dened by its respective location, and each beingadapted to be received by a mounting recess, closed at both ends, of anarrow circuit breaker; said first and second sections being positionedso that both can at the same time be received by a mounting recess .of awide circuit breaker; said cooperating formation in each set for thesecond means comprising a hook whose free end extends toward said firstmeans.

6. A panelboard comprising an electrically energizable first means and asecond means for mechanically retaining a circuit breaker load side andproviding pivot means about which a circuit breaker load side ispivotable into operative engagement with said first means; said firstand said second means having a plurality of sets of cooperatingformations each deiining a location where either a single wide circuitbreaker or a pair of narrow circuit breakers in adjacent side by siderelationship may be mounted; the cooperating formation in each set forthe second means comprising a rst and a second section; said first andsaid second sections being spaced from one another within the limitsdefined by its respective location, and each being adapted to bereceived by a mounting recess, closed at both ends, .of a narrow circuitbreaker; said first and second sections being positioned so that bothcan at the same time be received by a mounting recess of a wide circuitbreaker; said cooperating formation in each set for the second meanscomprising a hook whose free end extends toward said first means; saidfirst and said second sections comprising portions of said hookseparated by a notch communicating with an edge of the hook positionedclosest to said first means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,647,225 Cole et al July 28, 1953 2,883,586 Christensen Apr. 2l, 19592,883,587 Dorfman Apr. 2l, 1959 2,914,708 Edmunds Nov. 24, 19592,921,240 Cole lan. l2, 1960 2,997,628 St, John Aug. 22, 1961

1. A PANELBOARD COMPRISING AN ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZABLE FIRST MEANS AND ASECOND MEANS COMPRISING A MECHANICAL RETAINER FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER LOADSIDE AND A POINT ABOUT WHICH A CIRCUIT BREAKER LINE TERMINAL ISPIVOTABLE IN A PLANE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST MEANS, SAID FIRSTAND SAID SECOND MEANS COOPERATING TO DEFINE A FIRST LOCATION FORMOUNTING OF A WIDE CIRCUIT BREAKER, SAID SECOND MEANS INCLUDING APLURALITY OF SELECTIONS FOR MOUNTING FIRST AND SECOND IDENTICALLYCONSTRUCTED NARROW CIRCUIT BREAKERS AT SAID FIRST LOCATION, SAIDPLURALITY OF SECTIONS LOCKING SAID FIRST AND SECOND NARROW CIRCUITBREAKERS AGAINST MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO SAID PLANE; ADJACENT ONES OFSAID SECTION BEING SPACED BY A NOTCH.